Stick Man, Rose Theatre Kingston review ★★★★★

For anyone craving a live Christmas spectacle for toddlers, we've got good news: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's Stick Man is live in Kingston this December (there are also loads of online shows to enjoy this festive season).

We took our two children, aged five and three, to the production, and the delight of being back in a live theatre space, with a socially distanced cohort of giggling, excited children, was palpable.

Freckle Productions is adept at adapting Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's classics, including Zog, Tiddler and Tabby McTat, and this production is engaging from start to finish. Also, at under an hour, it's the perfect length for capturing and holding the little ones' attention and works for two-year-olds or six-year-olds (the latter will get very involved!).

A previous cast of Stick Man. Photo: Robin Savage

The cast stars Jamie Coles as Stick Man, Georgina Duncan and Euan Wilson, and is directed by Mark Kane (original direction by Sally Cookson), and ticks every box you want it to for a kids' production: it's fun, it's musical, it's silly and it's interactive. The interactive aspects were the ones our co-reviewers enjoyed the most, particularly the beach scene where Stick Man is being used as a bat to strike an Invisiball into the audience.

Stick Man loves nothing more than his tree, his family of fellow twigs and early morning jogs. But one morning he is kidnapped by a rambunctious dog. Then, after a narrow escape, he’s picked up by a little girl wanting to play pooh-sticks. And so begins an intrepid adventure as Stick Man tries to get back to the Family Tree in time for Christmas. He is mistaken for all kinds of things but as he keeps trying to tell everybody: “Why can’t they see? I’m Stick Man, I’m Stick Man, I’m Stick Man, that’s me!”

The actors move seamlessly from one character to the next, transforming from dog to girl to swan, or musician to Father Christmas - yes, the man in red makes an appearance in the final scene.

There’s plenty of audience participation for little ones and some puppetry, too – including, of course, the Stick Family in their sycamore tree, in this Freckle Productions' show.

Expect plenty of musical, festive fun and a touching tale that will delight audiences young and old. Book now - you and the kids won't want to miss it.

Suitable for ages 3+